Health and behavioral health equity is achieved when historically disadvantaged and excluded populations have equal and fair access to opportunities and resources that lead to healthy outcomes, including addressing barriers to those opportunities and resources.

Eliminating health and behavioral health disparities requires us to target the root causes of racial, ethnic, and other types of disparities. The root causes—also known as the social determinants of health—include early childhood education, proximity to healthy and fresh food outlets, satisfactory housing conditions, safe streets and walkable spaces, economic security, clean air, accessible and affordable transportation, and racism. We use a systems approach that touches multiple governing and social structures that affect the social determinants, appreciates the intersectionality of possible root causes, considers the complexity of possible and contextually- and culturally-appropriate solutions, and works to build the power of community members most affected by the disparities and inequities.

Eliminating health and behavioral health disparities requires us to target the root causes of racial, ethnic, and other types of disparities. The root causes—also known as the social determinants of health—include early childhood education, proximity to healthy and fresh food outlets, satisfactory housing conditions, safe streets and walkable spaces, economic security, clean air, accessible and affordable transportation, and racism. We use a systems approach that touches multiple governing and social structures that affect the social determinants, appreciates the intersectionality of possible root causes, considers the complexity of possible and contextually- and culturally-appropriate solutions, and works to build the power of community members most affected by the disparities and inequities.